Coalition deal will increase tension in society, say migrant groups

The new coalition agreement will lead to increased tension between different population groups, according to minority rights organisations.


The new cabinet plans to restrict immigration, get tough on Islamic schools and ban headscarves for police and justice ministry staff.
‘I am extremely worried that different groups will be played off against each other,’ said a spokesman for the Turkish workers association TAN.
The Moroccans in the Netherlands Alliance said the new cabinet’s message is clear. ‘There are too many Moroccans in the Netherlands and we don’t want any more,’ a spokesman said.
Anti-Muslim campaign
And anti-racism organisation Nederlands Bekent Kleur accused the right-wing VVD and the Christian Democrats of helping Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-Islam PVV, of carrying out his ‘anti-Muslim campaign’.
Labour leader Job Cohen told a tv talk show on Thursday night that the ban on the burqa and headscarf for police officials is ‘symbol politics’.
By saying they are going to ban something creates the impression there is a problem, Cohen said. ‘But I have never seen a police officer in a headscarf.’
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